 For Authors: November 08, 2006 Issue [#1364] |
  For Authors
This week: Edited by: Melissa is fashionably late!  
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1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
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We all have the great novel buried somewhere in our heads. The trouble with some of us is getting that novel out for public consumption. Some people, like me, don't have the apparent attention required in order to get our story written. Others, however, lack motivation or courage.
That's where NaNoWriMo comes in.
My name is Melissa is fashionably late! and I am your guest editor for this week's newsletter. |
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What is this NaNoWriMo thing?
NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month. The movement was started in July of 1999 by Chris Baty and has become an annual event for the month of November since 2000. Participants of NaNoWriMo are challenged to write a 50,000 word novel during the 30 days of the month it is held.
Despite the name, the NaNoWriMo now has an international scope. I guess it would just sound weird to call it InNoWriMo. Last year, 59,703 people officially joined the NaNoWriMo movement. Of the nearly 60,000 people, 9,765 were winners, each writing their own 50,000 word novels.
The rules of NaNoWriMo are simple. One commits to write 50,000 words in the month. You can choose any genre, any theme, any plot. Or, if you don't have anything in mind when you start, you can choose to just write what comes to mind. The official NaNoWriMo site slogan is, "No plot? No problem!"
To complete the challenge successfully, participants are basically required to write 1,666 and 2/3 words per day, or 1667 when rounding up. This equals to about 3 pages of single spaced, 12-point type. Once you've completed your 50,000 words, you submit your novel to be verified. In return, you receive a printable certificate and an icon to display on the web. Your name is also included in a list of winners for the year.
Basically, the real reward of NaNoWriMo is completing your novel, or getting a good start if 50,000 words doesn't complete your work. It allows you to accomplish something as a writer, even if it's a short, 50,000 word novel, or the start of a 100,000 word, more in-depth story.
For more information, you can visit the official NaNoWriMo site at http://www.nanowrimo.org/ or you can check out the other NaNoWriMo resources on Writing.Com. If you choose to go to the official NaNoWriMo site, make sure that you include a link to your Writing.Com portfolio in your forum signatures! It'll give you more exposure to your other, non-novel items!
Even though November and NaNoWriMo has already started, it's never too late to get yourself going on your next great novel! |
NaNoWriMo writings and resources
Publishing your NaNoWriMo...
Or... Writing related things
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Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form
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Written by humorous_sage , "Have any of you worked with PublishAmerica? If so, please comment. Has the experience been good, bad, or indifferent?"
I have previously submitted to PublishAmerica, and they are almost always willing to at least take a look at your work. I know at least one author who has published with PublishAmerica (Lady Stars ). She has published two different books, that I know of, with them.
Like I said, before, I had submitted to PublishAmerica, and they asked to see my work. I later decided against sending my manuscript in, but that was more due to my own nerves than anything. They later sent me a letter asking me to please submit my book to them, so I can say that they are at least good with follow up.
Hope that helps! 
Written by Babak , "Okay.... i have problem i think no one else in this world has lol! I cant add detail. Plain and simple, my friends say my chapter are too short and i agree. I want to add more detail can you tell me ways?"
Believe it or not, I've actually had this problem myself! It's hard to relay what you see in your head to written paper, isn't it?
There are some great questions you can ask yourself when writing a paragraph, though. An example:
The dog barked.
Where was the dog barking?
The dog barked at me from behind the door.
Why was the dog barking?
The dog barked at me from behind the door. He didn't seem to take too kindly to my intrusion of his territory.
What did the dog's barking sound like?
The dog barked at me from behind the door. He didn't seem to take too kindly to my intrusion of his territory. His shrill yips echoed through the trees.
How did the dog's barking make me feel?
The dog barked at me from behind the door. He didn't seem to take too kindly to my intrusion of his territory. His shrill yips echoed through the trees, causing my heart to beat in my throat.
Remember to show your reader everything, instead of telling your reader about what you're thinking. It can be a difficult task to accomplish, but will help your attention to detail tremendously. I hope that this advice was helpful!
Written by scarl , "Dear For Authors Newsletter,
While writing in the short story that I am currently working on, I wrote at least 3 drafts on how to describe my main character. After trying a variety of ways to find something I liked, I discovered a few key things I wanted to share with those at writing.com.
1. The goal is to paint a picture of your character's face, so shy away from using technical phrases or words. Don't just describe them as blonde, describe what blonde looks like. Examples: "daisy hair" or "sunshine colored hair"
2. Putting in why a character may look a certain way and how this character feels about it's appearance, introduces us to a bit of the character's personality and not just their face.
I hope you find these tips may prove helpful for another author in your newsletter!
Sabrina Carl"
Thank you for the tips! |
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